The Empress Dowager looked at the Ninth Princess coldly. If it were in the past, the Ninth Princess would have been happy to coax her when she acted like a child in front of her, but not this time.

After all, she was the child she had raised, so the Empress Dowager couldn't say anything too harsh. "Xiao Jiu, Ru Guo made a mistake and has already been punished by the Grand Empress Dowager. She can't possibly come back!"

When the Ninth Princess heard this news, she found it hard to accept. How could Ruguo have offended the Empress Dowager? Was there some misunderstanding?

"Grand Empress Dowager, what did Ruguo do? How did she manage to alarm the Empress Dowager?"

"Xiao Jiu, there aren't that many questions about things in the palace. Just remember not to mention Ru Guo again!"

"But……"

"There are no 'buts'. It's a blessing that you weren't implicated this time!" the Empress Dowager said with a grim expression.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's expression, the Ninth Princess could only swallow back what she was about to say.

The Empress Dowager gave the Ninth Princess a few more instructions and then sent her back to her room.

After the Ninth Princess left, the Empress Dowager thought about having the Ninth Princess move to the West Third Palace next year. She had initially taken the Ninth Princess in because she felt sorry for her and because the Fifth Prince had moved to the Princes' Palace, which she found rather lonely.

It seems that the Ninth Princess may already know about Consort Wuya. Since Ruguo dared to point out the Imperial Noble Consort, she will also tell the Ninth Princess about Consort Wuya. No one knows what the Ninth Princess will do.

She's getting old and doesn't want to cause any trouble.

The Ninth Princess angrily returned to her room and saw a piece of paper on the table that read, "Ruguo's death is related to the Imperial Noble Consort."

The Ninth Princess crumpled the paper into a ball and said angrily, "Imperial Noble Consort? Why is it the Imperial Noble Consort again?"

"Your Highness!" A palace maid entered and curtsied to the woman in front of the Buddha statue. "Your Highness has returned from Yuqing Palace. She said she couldn't find out if anyone in Yuqing Palace had been poisoned, and the Crown Prince is intentionally hiding it!"

"Alright, I understand!" the woman replied. "Any news from Chengqian Palace?"

The palace maid hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Imperial Noble Consort is under house arrest in Chengqian Palace!"

"That's it?" the woman asked, turning around incredulously.

The palace maid kept her head down and didn't speak.

"No wonder she's the Emperor's cousin; even plotting against the Crown Prince only resulted in confinement!" the woman said with a sneer. "Tongjia Qingyao!"

The woman chanted Buddhist scriptures rapidly, trying to suppress the resentment in her heart. Unfortunately, this did not calm her mind. She tore the prayer beads in her hand apart with force, and they rolled to the ground.

Upon seeing this, the palace maid immediately knelt down.

"Don't make any moves during this time, so as not to arouse suspicion!" the woman instructed.

"Yes, I understand!" the palace maid replied.

As soon as it got dark at Yuqing Palace, He Xue began urging the Crown Prince to go to Chengqian Palace.

The Crown Prince looked at He Xue gently and said, "There are still guards patrolling. We'll go when they change shifts!"

"Your brother, the Crown Prince, promised to take you, and he definitely will!"

"Alright then!" He Xue could only continue to wait.

"He Xue, why don't we have Physician Liu come and examine your pulse again?" Ever since He Xue woke up, the Crown Prince had wanted Physician Liu to examine her again, but He Xue refused, mainly because she didn't want to drink bitter medicine anymore.

"No need, Your Highness, I'm really fine. Let's not have Physician Liu come. Let's leave Physician Liu for those who need him!"

"He Xue, I remember you promised me that you would listen to me in everything from now on!" the Crown Prince said.

"Really? I don't remember! Children say the darndest things!" Xue wouldn't admit it, otherwise the Crown Prince would definitely use that to manipulate her.

"Would you like me to help you remember?" the Crown Prince asked, approaching He Xue.

"No need!" He Xue took two steps back.

"He Xue, come here!" The Crown Prince gently beckoned to He Xue.

"No!" Although He Xue refused verbally, her body betrayed her and she walked toward the Crown Prince.

He Xue realized that she must have been bewitched by the Crown Prince; indeed, beauty can be a dangerous thing!

He Xue tugged at the Crown Prince's sleeve and shook it, "Crown Prince, I just want to be alone with you. Don't you want to have some alone time with me?"

Although the Crown Prince didn't quite understand what "a world for two" with Xue meant, he could roughly guess that he also enjoyed Xue's coquettishness.

Whether it was because of He Xue's words or because he was swayed by her, the Crown Prince somehow agreed to He Xue's request.

The Crown Prince smiled indulgently at He Xue's triumphant expression, "I just can't do anything with you!"

He Xue smiled smugly at the Crown Prince.